How to Foster Inclusive Worship in Your Congregation

The purpose of this webinar, “Inclusive Worship for Clergy – A Discussion,” was to provide our communities with ideas and broader thinking around disabilities inclusion – particularly in worship and prayer settings. Whether or not you’re a member of the clergy, we hope it will answer some of your questions about disabilities inclusion and provide best practices that you can adapt in ways that are right for your settings – some simple, respectful principles and approaches to make it possible for all to feel welcome and able to access prayer.

This discussion was originally recorded to help make worship inclusive at the 2017 URJ Biennial. Though it was designed for clergy and worship leaders, it has universal applicability to all who come together in prayer and who care about hospitality and accessibility for everyone. The themes are applicable for every congregation and can be adapted to best fit your community.

A document on inclusive worship tips and best practices for clergy is also available as a resource on disabilitiesinclusion.org. Throughout the site, you'll find plenty of resources for inclusion and welcoming people with fisabilities in your congregation. 

February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month, a unified initiative to raise disability awareness and support efforts to foster inclusion in Jewish communities worldwide. For important resources created by top disability experts, visit the Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center, created by the Union for Reform Judaism in partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation.

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